Jeanine, also known as the voice behind Aphrochic, has been bringing her blend of "modern style with soul" to the blogosphere for years. We've been intrigued with the occasional shots of her house that have been featured on the blog, so it was with pleasure that we headed over to North Beach to meet Jeanine and tour her home.

Jeanine's palette and style choices seem perfect for apartment dwellers with strict landlords. Save for the wallpaper in the office (actually gift wrap!), she has kept a neutral backdrop for her home and adds color with accessories and art. Not only does it give the whole place a calm feel, it allows the artwork to pop off the walls. And because Jeanine has really personalized the space with photos, art from family and friends (and a few of her own paintings, as well), and culturally significant pieces, the home feels lived in and warm as opposed to stark and overly-minimal. We'll continue to track Jeanine's design inspirations and projects at Aphrochic, where we hear custom pillows are currently in the works (which seems a natural evolution given the great collection of pillows in her home).

My style: I think my style is much like the tagline of my blog – modern, soulful style. I like mixing modern furnishings with things that tell a story –antique chairs, traditional art, and rustic pieces. I try not to keep to one aesthetic. My home is a place for self expression. Mixing it up keeps it from being too sterile and it also create a space where my surroundings truly reflect me. That’s what makes it feel like home.

The inspiration for my home: I am inspired by culture. It has always been a big part of my design style. I have always loved homes that are “African Chic”, so I work to do that here, bringing in ethnic pieces that reflect my African roots. At the same time, I am always amazed at the ways that pieces from other cultures can be tastefully blended to convey an individual point of view. So while I am always interested in expressing my own African-American culture, I can be equally inspired by a porcelain Chinese statue or paintings from Chile.

Favorite element: There are so many things I love about this apartment. It is hard to list just one favorite element. If I had to narrow it down to a few, my favorite elements are my large, comfy sofa, the rustic dining room table, and the Louis Ghost Chair. They are three of the most striking elements in my home, and they really help to define my unique blend of style.

Biggest challenge in designing my home: Color. This was the first apartment where I started with a neutral color scheme. With so much light coming in, keeping it white just seemed right. I had to learn to layer in bits of color to bring some personality to the space. Now, I really love how the pinks, purples and blues pop against the neutral scheme.

What friends say about my home: People love this place. I’ve been told that it’s stylish and at the same time warm and homey. I am lucky enough to have a space where the indoors and outdoors really come together. It’s the perfect apartment for hosting parties and barbecues, and that’s exactly what I wanted – a beautiful space where people want to come back again and again.

Biggest embarrassment in my home: The bedroom closet! Hence, why there is no picture of it. It’s the final frontier for me to organize and decorate. It’s where we hide all of the mess.

Proudest DIY: It has to be the shelving and credenza in the entryway. I’m sure people will recognize the IKEA Lack Shelves. The credenza is actually the UDDEN Kitchen Cabinet unit from IKEA. The pattern is really striking, and I loved it, so instead of mounting it on the wall it went into the hallway. The whole thing turned out beautifully.

Biggest indulgence with respect to my home: Saturday mornings lying on this big L-shaped sofa. Life can’t get any better. The whole family enjoys time here, and it has these perfect armrests where you can also sit your laptop. I do much of my blogging right here.

Best advice given or received: Enjoy the moment. When I first moved here I wanted everything to be perfect right away. Now after four years I am finally learning to enjoy it, instead of looking for the next space to conquer or redecorate. It really feels like home, and home is to be enjoyed.

Dream source for stuff: As I said, I really like to mix it up. There is furniture here from West Elm, Anthropologie, IKEA, Crate and Barrel, and Ebay. I think my favorite source for furniture has to be IKEA. You can always find something streamlined and functional, and at a great price.